Chief Financial Officer

at  Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

POSITION SUMMARY

Proudly standing as the nation’s oldest HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania has been a stalwart and highly respected institution of higher education since our founding in 1837. For over 185 years our alumni have emerged as leaders and left their mark on the social, economic, and political history of Philadelphia, the surrounding region, the nation, and the world. Building on this legacy, the vision for Cheyney University is to become the premier model for academic excellence, character development, and social responsibility.
Here at Cheyney, we value scholarship, diversity, integrity, respect, and service. We are committed to maintaining a vibrant educational community that is dedicated to promoting scholarship and lifelong learning for its students, offering wide student access to resources to ensure an opportunity for all to acquire an education, encouraging freedom of thought and freedom from discrimination by ensuring a respectful environment, and provide outreach and service to external and constituent communities, demonstrating their understanding of the importance and value of service.
We’re looking for exceptional individuals who share our values, embrace our mission, recognize our potential, and covet the opportunity to continue to move our historic University forward. CU proudly offers a positive and purposeful work environment; comprehensive employee benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance along with many wellness programs; generous retirement plans; a commitment to work-life balance including generous paid vacation, paid sick time, military leave, and paid time off for most major holidays; and a University mission to support employee personal and professional growth including a tuition waiver for self and family members, training and development, and advancement opportunities.
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is a four-year liberal arts institution, with an enrollment of approximately seven hundred students. Cheyney is one of the ten members institutions of the Pennsylvania System of Higher Education (PAASHE) and is accredited through the Middle State Commission on Higher Education. The institution has a complement of over 140 innovative and accomplished faculty and staff.
As a strategic leader at Cheyney University, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) reports to the Chief Administrative and Operations Officer (CAOO) and supports the long-term fiscal sustainability for the institution. The CFO will guide the finance and accounting teams to manage cash flow, produce timely and accurate financial statements/reports. Additionally, this position leads the integration of technology systems and platforms utilized in PASSHE for fiscal management and reporting, as well as serving as the institution as lead for shared services engagement with the PASSHE system.
Exercising good stewardship of the institution’s resources, the CFO is tasked with ensuring the liquidity of the institution through strategic addressing the short and long-term liabilities of the institution. This role is responsible for the monitoring and providing recommendations on the investment strategies that drive a return on investments (ROI) in endowed and investment opportunities for the institution and its’ subsidiaries. Financial modeling and forecasting are critical elements of the role of the CFO, related to assessments of internal and external factors that impact revenues and expenses.

REQUIREMENTS

Education, Training, and Experience:
A master’s degree in administration, business, finance, accounting, or other closely related field. Minimum of 10 years of experience leading financial and administrative functions in a large, complex organization.
At least 10 years of accounting, finance, or business management experience in a leadership role, with seven of those years being in a leadership capacity, preferably in higher education business and fiscal management.
GAAP and financial reporting technical skills.
Ability to work productively in highly collaborative environments that maximize autonomy and decision-making.
Ability to be flexible and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines. Strong leadership and team development skills; great people skills; solid negotiating skills; strong work ethic.
Experience within the Pennsylvania System of Higher Education, preferred.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• A collaborative, effective, and proven leader, with a history of leading the fiscal functions of a complex institution, with familiarity of a HBCU environment.
• An excellent record of leadership in policy formation, including planning, assessment, project accounting, grant, and general administration.
• Demonstrated expertise in the development and implementation of strategic financial plans.
• Comfortable and effective in dealing with ambiguity, complexity, competing demands, and change while providing balanced leadership.
• Extensive current knowledge of financial and business practices and information technologies
• Data-driven in making sound financial and strategic decisions.
• Effective communication, excellent supervisory and management skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment and with internal and external constituencies.
• A history of creating a culture of excellence and accountability and the ability to thrive in a complex, dynamic, multi-faceted organization.
• Experience with contract negotiations.

• Ensure long-term sustainability for the institution. Design-frame and execute a strategy that aligns the university’s financial, physical, and human resources for the entire university community. As a part of this duty, (1) lead development, execution, and assessment of business and fiscal policies and procedures to ensure optimum use of the University’s financial, physical, and human resources while aligning the budget with the institution’s Strategic Plan and balancing the University budget, (b) guide the university community to adequately respond to opportunities and challenges, (c) design-frame and lead a coordinated, integrated, and strategic approach to financial operations, recognizing the importance of the HBCU experience for students, faculty, and staff at the university, and (d) supervise direct reports and key representatives in the finance department.
• Ensure strategic alignment of Cheyney University’s planning processes, resources, and structures to ensure these are aligned with each other and are sufficient to fulfill Cheyney’s mission and goals, and to continuously assess and improve its services.
• Lead design-framing and execution of strategic goals and objectives of the Finance Department and Business Office. Guide budget development of all other divisions and departments. Specific to this responsibility, lead, (a) oversee the external audit process for year-end financial statement and preparation and certification, (b) facilitate identification of opportunities and seamless procurement aligned to university mission, (c) negotiate and administer major university contracts and (c) administer internal audits when necessary.
• Apply modern theories of leadership, management, and negotiation to real-world challenges.
• Monitors financial performance by measuring and analyzing results, initiating corrective actions, and minimizing the impact of variances.
• Develop policies and procedures for implementation of institutional fiscal and other Strategic goals and plans. Ensure that a process of review, assessment, and continuous improvement of existing financial and administrative policies and procedures are implemented and support the needs of HBCU students, faculty, and staff.
• Lead the design-framing of strategic financial leadership in the development of financial priorities and future directions, by developing and overseeing the university budget, revenues, and expenditures. Develop financial plans and financial analysis models for the campus, which includes innovative solutions, strategies, and procedures. Collaborate with other university divisions regarding philanthropy, endowment management, and real estate.
• Predict, initiate, and manage change through innovative methods.
• Updates job knowledge by remaining aware of new regulations, participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief Administrative and Operations Officer.